County Police Nab Two on Hutch in New Rochelle with Kilo of Cocaine, 5 Kids

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Westchester County Police arrested two Bronx residents and seized a kilo of cocaine on Tuesday following a traffic stop on the Hutchinson River Parkway in New Rochelle.

The couple had five children in the car with them at the time of their arrest who range in age from 4 to 12 years old. One of the two persons arrested is the mother of three of the children.

Police Officer Christopher Perricone was on patrol on the Hutch around 11:30 a.m. when he observed a Ford Explorer traveling northbound with five children in a rear seat who were all moving around and clearly not restrained with seat belts. He stopped the vehicle near Webster Avenue.

The driver was determined to have a suspended license and he was taken into custody at that time.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, Perricone found a backpack in the rear cargo area containing about 2.5 pounds of cocaine.

Arrested were: Anthony Navarro, 31, of 188th Street, Bronx, and Jerica Ramirez, 32, of Grandview Place, Bronx. They were charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, a felony, and five counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor. Navarro was additionally charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree, a misdemeanor.

Navarro and Ramirez are scheduled to be arraigned today in New Rochelle City Court.

The cocaine has an estimated street value of about $30,000 when purchased in bulk and up to $100,000 when broken down for resale in smaller quantities.